[:it]https://www.illocalenews.it/2020/index.asp?pag=news&cat=2&sotcat=33&art=23567
Favignana, homophobic insults in the City Council: the reactions
The notes of the mayor Francesco Forgione, of the’Arcigay Trapani and of the Egadi Pride Organizing Committee
Reactions to yesterday's events at the Favignana City Council meeting were heated, starting with the mayor. Francesco Forgione who writes: “What happened yesterday during the Favignana City Council meeting is extremely serious, unspeakable, and unacceptable for any public, civic, or institutional body. From the very beginning of the meeting, provocations and insults erupted from the audience, called to participate through a rally by former Mayor Ernandez. This climate was furthered by the laxity of the presidency, which led to a brutalization of tone and language, including towards the Mayor. It all culminated with vulgar, homophobic, and unspeakable insults shouted at journalist Maurizio Macaluso, Mayor Forgione's spokesperson, and City Councilor Pietro Giangrasso. The video of the incident will be forwarded to the relevant authorities. However, the sad reality remains of the deterioration and decay of the climate and political debate within the City Council, now favored by a role no longer of guarantee and impartial in council management. To Councilor Giangrasso and Dr. Macaluso receives all the solidarity and support of the mayor and the council of Favignana."”.
The note released by the president of Arcigay Trapani is of the same tenor Viviana Giubilo. “What happened in the Favignana city council – writes Giubilo – This is yet another demonstration of how necessary a law against homolesbotransbiphobia is. Hearing unpleasant and offensive epithets like those directed at Councilor Giangrasso and journalist and writer Maurizio Macaluso, the mayor's spokesperson, during the council meeting, in an institutional venue yet open to the public, makes us realize how far we have to go as individuals and as an association. We at Arcigay Trapani are and always will be on the front lines, serving our LGBTQIA+ community and all those who suffer any form of violence and discrimination, and we will never support those who lack the courage or the duty to respect them.to”.
The organizing committee of the Egadi Pride, through its representative Anna Patti, takes a position on the incident that occurred yesterday in the Egadi Islands. “The Egadi Pride Committee – writes Patti – expresses its deepest solidarity with Councilor Giangrasso of the Municipality of Favignana, who yesterday, in an institutional context—that of the open-door Council meeting—was attacked by the audience in the chamber with loud homophobic insults. Respect begins with language, made up of words and gestures that describe the world around us. The jokes in the Vatican, the government's constant harassing attacks, and the statements of politicians running for European offices only fuel a culture of hatred toward others, understood as "others," different from themselves, legitimizing ordinary people to use aggressive tones and to discriminate and denigrate others for their life choices. We must distance ourselves from these attitudes that aim to isolate people, so that they can always be free to self-determine their own lives and bodies.
We are certain that the matter is still far from being considered concluded.[:]
